Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies in India are committed to maintaining current prices through the festive season, despite facing increased commodity costs and geopolitical disruptions. This strategy aims to protect consumer demand and sustain volume growth, even as margins remain under pressure.
Mumbai Police have issued a prohibitory order banning weapons, explosives, and other harmful articles from August 29 to September 27, ahead of major festivals like Dahi Handi and Ganesh Chaturthi. The order aims to maintain public peace and safety, with specific exemptions for government personnel and security guards.
India's passenger vehicle sales are estimated to have surged by approximately 35 per cent to about 4.5 lakh units in August, driven by strong performances from major automakers like Maruti Suzuki India, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, and Mahindra & Mahindra, with the industry entering the festive season with optimism.
Indian passenger vehicle manufacturers are significantly increasing production and stocking dealerships in anticipation of strong festival season demand, with new launches planned and supply bottlenecks being addressed. However, the industry faces potential moderation in growth during the second half of FY27 due to a high base from last year's post-GST surge, commodity inflation, and elevated inventory levels.
Bajaj Auto is set to launch new Pulsar motorcycles in the 125cc and 150-250cc segments in Q2 FY27, aiming to capitalise on the upcoming festival season surge. This move follows strong growth in the 150cc-plus segment, where refreshed Pulsar models already account for over 50 per cent of Bajaj's sales.
Qcom platforms are prioritising convenience, selection, AI-driven inventory planning and loyalty rewards over deep discounting.
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Luxury carmakers are shifting into high gear with a mix of product launches, personalised experiences and lifestyle-led engagement.
After three straight quarters of decline, India's housing market is pinning hopes on the ongoing festival season to revive sales momentum. While 2025 may still end with sales volumes below 2024 levels, developers believe the seasonally strong October-December quarter could narrow the gap, aided by stable interest rates, festive incentives, and resilient demand in the premium segment.
India's housing market has remained resilient this festival season (Dussehra-Diwali period), despite global macroeconomic challenges, tech-sector layoffs, and affordability pressures, with developers reporting 10-25 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) rise in home sales across major cities.
...But sales of domestic passenger vehicles dropped 2% to 3% year-on-year in August owing to low demand.
The Retailers Association of India (RAI) has voiced concerns that the government's new 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 could reverse the progress of digital payment adoption among small retailers. This fee, effective October 15, places the burden on merchants operating on thin margins, potentially pushing them back to cash transactions and undermining the government's formalisation agenda, especially ahead of the festive season.
India's eway bill generation reached 139.08 million in August, marking the third-highest monthly count on record and indicating sustained momentum in goods movement and formal economic activity, according to official data.
India's passenger vehicle (PV) exports saw a 17 per cent year-on-year decline in August, contrasting sharply with a 36.5 per cent surge in domestic dispatches, which reached a record high for the month as automakers prepared for the festive season.
India's entry-level 5G smartphone segment, typically held to be those priced below 10,000, is set to bustle in the upcoming festival season as brands like HMD, Poco, and Lava launch their products.
Rishi Panchami Bhaji, also known as Rushichi Bhaji, is a traditional Maharashtrian and Konkan festive preparation made during Rishi Panchami, observed on the second day of Ganesh Chaturthi. The dish brings together seasonal vegetables, leafy greens and tubers, reflecting the simplicity and abundance of traditional cooking.
The company has also started scouting for land for a new plant, as it plans manufacturing capacity beyond its immediate volume requirements.
For these startups, qcom is emerging as a launch and discovery platform, not simply a fulfilment channel.
Detox and delight in the festive season with these 7 refreshing and healthy drinks!
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the licences of several food establishments in Mumbai, including the Nair Hospital canteen and Olympia Coffee House, due to serious violations of food safety and hygiene standards. Inspections revealed issues like unsanitary conditions, improper food handling, pest infestations, and lack of trained staff. The FDA also cancelled licences of other businesses and seized unhygienic milk products as part of a festive season campaign.
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions in India reached Rs 29.8 lakh crore in August, approaching record levels. Volume also hit a new high of 24.51 billion transactions, driven by festive activities like Raksha Bandhan. The digital payment system continues its rapid growth, expanding its global presence to 11 countries, with further growth anticipated during the upcoming festive season and new use cases like credit on UPI.
Vinfast sold 137 cars versus Tesla's 109 during the festive months of September and October, as BYD maintained a strong lead with over 1,100 cars sold, according to Fada data.
Kerala's state-run Bevco has reported record liquor sales during the first eight days of the Onam festive season, reaching Rs 771.29 crore, surpassing last year's figures. Officials anticipate this year's total sales will exceed the Rs 826.38 crore recorded in 2025, despite a slight dip in Uthradam day sales compared to the previous year.
Automobile, apparel and electronics are among sectors that see a sales boost during the festival season, a time when investors expect gains in related stocks. This year could be different: Analysts have factored in all positives and do not expect such stocks to deliver lucrative returns. "Indian households spend across sectors like automobiles, consumer durables, and consumer staples during the festival season.
The Indian government has imposed stockholding limits on bulk sugar consumers, restricting them to a 15-day supply if they use over 10 tonnes monthly, effective September 1 to November 30, to stabilise prices ahead of the festival season.
Domestic passenger vehicle dispatches in India surged by 34.3 per cent year-on-year to 4,57,810 units in July, marking the auto industry's strongest-ever July sales, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).
Festive season sounds lovely until you remember the heavy lehengas, complicated sari drapes, tight blouses and jewellery that starts feeling like a workout by dessert.
Amazon's ultra-fast delivery service, Amazon Now, has achieved $1 billion in annualised gross sales in India over the last three months, marking it as the fastest-growing e-commerce business in Amazon India's history, with orders doubling every quarter.
Indian refiners are diverting 350,000 tonnes of sugar, originally slated for export, to the domestic market to ease a supply crunch and stabilise prices ahead of the festive season.
Amazon India has witnessed an 84 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) increase in sales of hallmarked gold jewellery and posted a 5-fold spike in demand during the first two days of its ongoing Amazon Great Indian Festival (AGIF) sale event, which started on September 27. This demand is for brands such as Malabar Gold and Diamonds, PN Gadgil Jewellers, Joyalukkas, PC Chandra and KISNA, among others. According to current trends, customers buy fine jewellery starting at Rs 2,000 in the silver category and shell out up to Rs 40,000 for gold and diamond jewellery. In the last year, Amazon has seen more customers opt for 14 Karat purity.
India's automobile retail sales reached an unprecedented 24.23 lakh units in August, marking a 17.51 per cent year-on-year growth, with alternative fuels (CNG, hybrid, and electric) collectively surpassing petrol in the passenger vehicle segment for the first time.
With passenger vehicles (PVs), two-wheelers and three-wheelers registering double-digit growth, manufacturers raise production as the industry enters the festival season.
'The ethanol blended with petrol programme should not be halted or reconsidered.' 'India is not experiencing a structural sugar shortage, and the ethanol blending roadmap does not compete with food security or drive domestic price increases.'
Under regulatory scanner, Bengaluru-based Ola Electric has witnessed an uptick in its sales after facing a decline during the last few months. The company's daily average sales rose to 1,154 units in October, according to Vahan data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). With sales reaching 17,315 units between October 1 and October 15, the company has also boosted its market share to 34 per cent, up from 27 per cent in September, in the electric two-wheeler (e2W) segment.
Domestic passenger vehicle dispatches in India surged by 36.5 per cent year-on-year to 4,39,309 units in August, marking the highest ever sales for the month, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).
India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) recorded an unprecedented 24.51 billion transactions valued at Rs 29.8 lakh crore in August, largely propelled by the Raksha Bandhan festival. This surge marks a 22% annual increase in volume and 20% in value, highlighting the expanding reach and depth of the UPI ecosystem. Experts anticipate further growth during the upcoming festive season, while UPI's international acceptance now spans 11 countries.
Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 lineup is set to cost 20 to 43 per cent more in India, primarily due to rising global memory component costs and a depreciating rupee, while the new foldable iPhone Duo will be priced between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 4.5 lakh, matching the cost of some hatchback cars.
'With factories starting early for the next season, fresh sugar will enter market 10-15 days earlier than usual, and sugar price are expected to remain affordable in near term.'
Oriental Insurance has insured around 100 Ganesh pandals this year compared with only 20-30 last year.
Madhya Pradesh Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya has ignited a political firestorm with his controversial remarks suggesting sugar should be "very expensive" and avoided by those over 40, drawing sharp criticism from the opposition amidst rising inflation concerns.
